The Maldives

Posted in Cruises on December 16th, 2015

Top Things to Do and See in Paradise

Why the Maldives?

The Maldives is an island country and archipelago in the Indian Ocean, situated to the southwest of India and Sri Lanka, a shining jewel in the Laccadive Sea. The Maldives has long been considered the connoisseurs choice of a peaceful sandy getaway and not without good reason. The beautiful flora is dominated by swaying banyan, palm and pandanu trees that stand out from the impossibly white sand and catch the attention.
The sea is a veritable kaleidoscope of tones of greens and blue, alternating between turquoise, damselfly electric blue and aquamarine. The Maldives is simply put a paradise – an oasis of beauty waiting to be discovered.

What to do when you’re there

It almost seems daft asking the question as to what to do in such a place as the Maldives, as being there is enough for many people. Children will be in their element constructing Robinson Crusoe-esque dens from driftwood and coconut shells, finding all sorts of beach treasures and pestering hermit crabs. There are harmless little reef sharks and rays in the shallows, which offer endless hours of viewing pleasure and most beaches and resorts hire out kayaks in case you want to get up close and personal but maintain a woody distance!

Humans are restless beings at times, however, and even the archetypal paradise can become repetitive to some and so here are some recommendations for if and when the ants find your pants.

Visit the Grand Friday and Hukuru Miskiiy Mosques

A beautiful monument in Male, the Grand Friday is a peaceful place to visit where you can sit back and listen to the Imams recite their prayers and soak up the distinctive atmosphere. It’s the biggest of several mosques in Male and alongside Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque) a must see. The latter is an incredible old building made only of Maldive corals and still standing strong after more than 3 centuries.

Visit the incredible Male Fish Market

No, it’s not a market that only sells male fish, but an incredible fish market in Male, the bustling capital of the Maldives. You can see the abundance of local fish and if you have self-catering you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the prices. There are also some great, inexpensive restaurants nearby where you can sample the local fare.

Cruising, diving, fishing and snorkelling

There are a good few options for cruising around the archipelago including the charming, rustic Yasawa Princess Cruise boat. Awesome night fishing, fishing off the boat with free-to-use rods and tackle are encouraged and you will get the satisfaction of your catch augmenting the daily menu of simple but sea-fresh food. It is, in essence a back to basics experience, so leaving ideas of luxury behind and settling into an authentic experience is key. Snorkelling and scuba diving are both highly recommended on this trip and whenever possible during your Maldives cruise experience. The resident manta rays and whale sharks offer the possibility of a once in a lifetime experience for divers looking for the ultimate rush and the seas are brim-full of life of all shapes and sizes. There is never a dull moment in the waters of the Maldives. Fishing options in the Maldives are exceptional as well, whether it involves venturing out into deeper waters for big game, roughing it with local techniques such as line fishing or going after nocturnal species!

Banyan, palm and pandanus trees pepper the property, ringed by White Wings sand. The water palette is alternately turquoise, aqua, and sea glass blue.

Tags: Holidays, Winter Sun